Handcar-coaster wagon



M W, WSQ J. J. PANIK HANDCAR-COASTER WAGON '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 29, 1947 INVENTOR. 'JSefZ rfParzz)? Y Patented Jan. 17, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HANDCAR-COASTER WAGON Joseph J. Panik, Detroit, Mich. Application'May29, 1947, Serial No. 751,435

9 Claims.

The present invention ticularly of the class adapted to be used as toys, and aims to provide an improved toy wagon construction incorporating'novel propelling means.

An important object of the invention is to provide such a toy vehicle which resembles and may be used as an ordinary coaster wagon, but which also incorporates novel and highly efficient propelling means whereby the vehicle may be operated similarly to a handcar and propelled at considerable speed by'a child sitting in the wagon.

Another object is to provide such a vehicle having a single handle at thefront corresponding to the usual handle with which toy wagons are commonly provided, and which is similarly usable for pulling the wagon and for steering, the same handle being also usable, however, through the agency of mechanism of simple but effective character, to propel the vehicle after the fashion of a handcar when desired, by imparting a reciprocating or pumping movement to the handle.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a toy vehicle of the class indicated which is adapted to be economically formed of sheet metal by quantity production methods, and which is of rugged constructionand attractive appearance.

having propelling mechanism which is arranged to drive the front wheels of the vehicleand which is formed as a unitary assembly with the ,front wheel supporting means.

An object related to that last stated is to provide an improved unitary assembly for the front wheels of such a vehicle including a fifthwheel mounting, a swivelling front wheel support carried by the fifth wheel mounting, such support being of the generally conventional inverted yoke type and incorporating a steering arm extending forwardly and upwardly from the swiveling wheel support for attachment of a combined steering and pulling handle, and propelling means also carried by the swiveling wheel support and adapted to beactuated by pump ing movement of the handle in the manner previously indicated, all essential portions of said steering, supporting, and propelling means being readily accessible and replaceable for servicing and repair.

Another object is to provide an improved wheel supporting structure, particularly for toy vehicles. Still another object is to provide an improved body and frame srtucture for toy vehicles and the like.

relates to Vehicles, parform'of an integral skirted pan formed Still another object is to provide an improved propelling systemQparticularly for such a toy vehicle, including a handle adapted to serve as actuating means for thepropelling mechanism in the manner previously indicated, and also to serve as means for steering or for pulling the wagon in the usual manner, novel means being provided whereby the handle may be selectively coupled to or uncoupled from the propelling means.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon consideration of the present disclosure in its entirety.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side el-evational view, partly broken away, of a toy vehicle constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View thereof;

Fig. 3 is a composite view partly in front elevation and partly in section, taken substantially as indicated by the line and'arrows 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 4 l of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows; 7

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional detailed viewsshowing the parts in different operative positions, each view being taken substantially 0n th line .55 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the .arrows Fig. 7 is-a sectional view taken substantially on the line 'l--'i of Fig. l and locking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. '2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings, reference character It designates generally the sheet-metal body of the toy vehicle illustrated in the drawings as constituting a preferred embodiment of my present invention. The body may be in the of sheet metal by conventional drawing methods and including a substantially flat floor portion i2 formed with upwardly and outwardly inclined front ,and rear Walls l3 and H3 respectively,,and.

silnilarly formed left and right side walls as l5 and it. To impart a pleasing appearance and to conceal and protect thesupporting and operating. mechanism, the body may-be formed with an :integral skirt which, except at the front of the vehicle, may extend downwardly to a point only slightly above the hubs of the wheels. The skirt portion is designated 13,- and may be embossed outwardly over the Wheels, as indicated at 'ft, to provide additional clearance for-thezwheels tion 28 welded or otherwise rigidly attached to the bottom of the floor I2 of the body I6, and having downwardly projecting legs 36 and 3I provided with flanged openings as 32 formed in oppositely aligned positioning in and near their lower ends, through and from which openings the axleprojects to support the wheels. The wheel suppo'rting yoke assembly is braced as by the angular metal strap 34 welded or otherwise rigidly attached to intermediate portions of the legs and 3| and extending angularly upwardly and forwardly to the bottom of the floor I2 to which they are attached as by welding.

The supporting means for the front wheels also includes a yokelike support of substantially inverted U form, which is adapted to be drawn of sheet metal and is of deeper channeled section, having an integral flat upper portion corresponding to the big'ht of the U. Such fiat portion forms the fifth wheel and is generally designated 35, being of circular outline, viewed in plan, centrally secured to the underside of and pivoted with respect to a fifth wheel plate 36 attached to the underside of the floor I2 at the front center portion thereof. The plate 36 extends forwardly to bridge the space between the front wall I 3 and the inside of the skirt I8 and is downwardly flanged and secured to the skirt as by welding. The fianged portion of the fifth wh'e'el plate is designated 31, and the arrangement of the plate will be seen to stiffen the entire fr'ont end of the bo'dy'structure. A circular rib 38 is embossed in and projects downwardly from the plate 36, the rib being of U section, having a smoothly rounded bottom and being concentric with the pin 40 which pivotally secures the steering yoke assembly to the plate 36. Pivot pin '46 extends centrally through the plate and the flat top portion 35 of the yoke assembly, as well as through the nod! I2 of the body. A'circula'r central 'area 4'2 or the fiat top section 35 of the yoke is embossed upwardly to a height corresponding to thatof the bearing rib 38 to lie fiat against the plate in the area through which the pin '46 ex-- tends. The bearing rib 38 is preferably of sub- 'sta'ntial diameter, providing a relatively wide fifth-wheel bearing, and the pin, smoothly 'roundedabo've the floor, may be secured at its "lower 'end as by the conventional washer and cotter pin means-generally designated'43.

Integral wheel-supporting legs and 46 exftend downwardly and outwardly from the fifthwheel'p'ortion 35 and at their lower extremities -support the live'front axle 4B. The free edges of the side "webs of the'channeled l'eg portions 45 and *46'ares'tiffened at'their lower ends by crossweb portions 56 extendinglongitudinally of the vehicle, so that at its lower'end each leg is of generally box'form, spaced inner and outer walls being thereby constituted, which walls are provided with'aligned axle openings (undesignated) Surrounding eachsuch o'penin'gis an'inset circular embossment of partly toroidal form 5!, 52 constituting a race for antifriction balls as 53.

A tubular bearing sleeve 55 is freely rotatable in the openings in the embossed portions 5| and 52. The bearing sleeve is outwardly flared at both ends, as indicated at 56, to define raceways adapted to coact with the raceway portions 5I and 52 to support and retain the balls 53 which in turn center and rotatably support the sleeve 55, providing an antifriction journal therefor at two well-spaced positions, as will be apparent. The axle shaft 48 may have an easy sliding fit within the sleeve 55, and at one end carries the wheel assembly 66 which is keyed to the shaft to rotate therewith. At its opposite extremity which extends through the leg 46 the shaft 48 is supported by similar antifriction bearing means, some of the corresponding parts of which are shown and designated by like reference characters distinguished by the addition of the letter A to each, but the wheel 62 carried by such opposite end of the shaft is rotatable with respect to the axle and may be constructed similarly to the rear wheels 24 and 25.

A channeled sheet metal cross brace 65 bridges the lower extremities of the legs 45 and 46 extending substantially parallel to and below the axle 48. Cross brace 65 is upturned at its ends and the upwardly directed portions of its bottom flange constitute the box web portion 56 previously referred to which carries the bearing means for the inner end of sleeve 55. The side web portions of the upturned ends of the channel 65 are welded to the inner walls of the side flanges of the channel-sectioned legs 45 and 46 as indicated at 61. The central portion of the cross bracing member 65 is pivotally connected at a point in vertical alignment with pivot pin 45 to a longitudinal bracing member 66 which extends angularly upwardly and rearwardly therefrom and is fixedly attached as by welding at its rear end to the underside of the floor I 2. The pivotal connection between the bracing strap 65 and the cross brace 65 is provided by a pivot pin '68. This arrangement will be seen to permit free swinging movement of the yoke and front wheels during steering, while bracing the entire yoke and wheel assembly against unwanted angular movement toward the front or'rear about a transverse axis.

An extension yoke portion I0 extends angularly forwardly and upwardly from the outer walls of the wheel-supporting leg portions 45 and 46,'constituting an integral part of thissheetmetal assembly and tapering to narrower contour toward its front upper extremity. Extension yoke portion 10 may also be of channeled cross section foradded rigidity and at its up- .per extremity is provided with bifurcated end portions, each of which is preferably of downwardly opening channeled form, such end portions being designated 72 and provided. with aligned transverse openings (undesignated) for a pivot pin I4. Pivot pin l4 also extends through a-for-klike lower-fitting 15 carried by a tubular handle 76, the upper extremity of which carries aclosed or .D-type hand-grip fitting '18. When the handle assembly extends angularl upwardly and rearwardly from the extremity'cf the yoke portion ill as shown in Fig. 1 it may be used for steering in the usual manner by an occupant riding in the wagon, while it will be seen that the handle may-be swung forwardly and used to pull the wagon, also in the usual manner.

The handle is. also equippedwith couplin means whereby it maybe connected to hand- -60. Such propelling means includes a: pair of.

pulleys as-Sil and 82, the former fast, upon the axle 48 near the center andthe latter carried by a shaft 84 rigidlysupported by the left leg 45 of the front yoke assembly, as bybmeans of a hangar bracket 85 welded to the backotleg 45 and projecting rearwardlytherefrom. .The shaft 84 may be fixedly. mounted lnthe bracket, as by being welded thereto in the manner best indicated in Fig. 7, and projects inwardly therefrom to rotatably supportithez driving pulley iifi. A crank pin 85 is rigidly attached to and projects from the freeface. of the pulley 82. 'Pitman rod 88 is. pivotally connected to the'crank'pin- 8t and extends forwardlybetween the rlegs of the yoke assemblycto a point spaced below the: pin, where it isv pivotally connected to the lower end of an. actuating arm Gt'pivoted upomthe pin It andextending downwardly therefrom. It will be seen that by rocking the arm 98 about the, pivot pin 14 the pitman maybeimade to turn the. driving pulley '82, and the vehicle -may be driven through theagency of the belt' 921-which'connects the pulleys 82 andiBil: andso causes the axle shaft 48 and wheel $6 to be turned in response to such movementof the, arm BIl. The handle 18 is adapted to be. selectively connected toithe arm QUby clutching means, presently to be described,

so that by rocking the handle up and down, the above-described movement may be imparted to the arm 90 to propel the wagon.

A notch 94 is formed in the upper extremity of the arm 9t,between'the-supportingportionsI2 of I the extension yokeportion TIL-in a position to be engaged by a cross. pinx95 carried by the lower end ofa plunger 95 slidable within'thetubular handle 16. As shown in the drawing, thearm 96 may be formed of two laterally, spaced sheetmetal sections for added strength; and the opening (undesignated) therein through which the pin I6 extends may be located 01f --,center, as shown in Figs. and 6, to provide added material and a greater radius atthe portion of the arm containing theznotch 94,;which is ofcourse formed in both sections. The'lportionwof the plungerflfi which carries the pin-95projects between .the two sections of arm- 90, the pin 95 projecting from both sides of the-plunger, so that the correspondingly'notchedportions 94 1of the two arm sectionsyill) are both engaged by the pin 95. A rod 98 isattached'to the plunger 95"as by welding and extendsupwardly through and from the upper end of the handle tube I5. Rodd? carries a fingerring I00 rigidly attached thereto and exposed and 'accessibleqwithin the D-shaped .hand grip portion 18 so-thatthe ring may be easily "is grasped. It will be seen that'when the ring,

manipulated by one finger-while the :handle rod, and plunger portion r-96rare at the lowerextreme of their movement, the'pin =95engaging in the slotted portiont l clutches the handle assembly it to the arm '90 so that by pumping action of the entire handleabout the axis of the pin it the vehicle may-be 'propelle'd'in the manner described. Whenthe ring Hit-is pulled upwardly, the, pin: 95 is freed from thenotched portions 94 and the wagon may be steered. by an occupant, as for examplefwhile coasting,-without the rotation of the front wheelsimparting'reciprocating movement-t0 the-handle, as will be. ap-

parent.

The slidable plunger is urged downwardly: by

a coil compression spring I34fitted on the rod within the tube and acting downwardly upon plunger 96 while reacting upwardly againstia suitable U-shaped spring retainer clip as I35 carried by and. projecting through; and across the interior of the handletube on either side of rodu98. When the slidable parts-are in their lowered positioning in which the handle assembly is clutched to'driving arm assembly 90, the ring ltil lies in diametric slot portions I38 formed linlthe upper extremityof the handletube, as shown in Fig. 8 in full lines.

When the ring is i pulled up to declutch the handle, the ring may be turned 90 to lie across the higher, unslotted end portion of the handle tube which then by holding the ring and plunger assembly retracted,

keeps the handle declutched without requiring therider to hold on to the ring, as shown in dotted: lines in Fig. 8. It will be noted thatclutch pin- 95 is free to turn with the rod and plunger when the parts are pulled up, while the slot portions I38 realign the plunger and rod assembly so that the clutch pin will enter slot 94 when the ring is so turned as to permit reclutching.

Referring to the construction of the two rear wheels and the front wheel 62, it will beseen that each such wheel comprises a pair of identical pressed sheet-metal disks as iIlZ-and I03, the two disks having annular flat web portions generally designated H34, adapted to lie against and to be welded to one another,as by spot welding. The peripheralportions of the disks surrounding the web portions I04 are outwardly flanged as indicated'at I05 to define a partly toroidal'tire-supporting rim channel. Theportion of each disk lying within the flat web section I04 is outwardly convexed so that the central area of the assembled wheel disks is lenticu lar and adapted to support the axiallyspaced bearing outer race portions I06. The-race portions I06 are formed by integral inwardly embossed partly toroidal areas provided with central apertures IB'I extending through .the racedeiining portions I06 and of sufficient size to provide clearance for free rotation of the wheel with respect to a sleeve NIB which extends through both disk portions and somewhat beyond the race-forming portions I06. The ends .of-the sleeve I08 are-outwardly flanged, as indicated at IIILto form the inner races for a series of balls II2, andsuch outwardly flanged portions may also be of partly toroidal form and concentric with a circular line drawn through the centersof the balls I I2 which are trapped between the flanged race-defining portions IDS-and. III] .and'serve to journal the wheel on the'sleeve.

This arrangement will be seen to correspond generally tothat described in connection with the mounting of the supporting sleeve 55 for the line irontaxla-although it will be noted that in the front arrangement the sleeve 55 is journaled.

A suitable tire, as H4, is shown mounted in the rim channel portions m5, and this may be formed of soft rubber and provided with asofter core as '5 of sponge rubber or the'like if desired. It will be appreciated'that in assembling the wheel disks the annular flatwebportions I I4 may be welded together with the assembled tire in place, the tire being constructed as a preformed annulus. 'A separatetire-applying operation such as is now required is thereby eliminated.

Theball-race flanges'itt are also preformed in drawing the'wheel disks, and one'of the end flanges IIIl'of the bearingwsleeve I 08 'may also preformed, the other extremity of the sleeve *beingzleft straight and'flanged over, as by spinning,- after the balls are in place. The wheel thusconstitutes a completely self-contained unit which may be slid on and off the projecting end v of theaxle; and may be constructed at such low "cost asto' be readily replaceable at literally no 'imoreexpense than is involved in changing or replacing the tires of conventional ball-bearing '-:wheels as commonly constructed for use upon .wheeled toys. The wheel is shown as retained I; upon the end of the axle by a conventional cotter ztpiniiand washer assembly generally designated 116 over which a sheet metal hub cap as H8 is J' fitted.

' Asi previously indicated, the left front wheel fill 'may'difier'from' the other three wheels of the Vehicle; since it'is" the driving wheel, by the inr clusionof means for keying it to the en'dof the itfront axle shaft 48, which is indicated at I20, as 'a squared for the purpose. In forming the driving "wheeL-although the wheel disks are essentially similarin' their contour and mode of assembly, 'the' central apertured portion of each disk, in-

stead of the race-portion l and circular opening l0'l,isformed with a squared opening adapted to snugly'fit the squared shaft portion 120, the opening, which is not designated by a reference character, being surrounded by an inwardly di- "rected flange I22 which increases the'interengagingload-supporting surface areas of the'wheel "and squared shaft portion. The wheel may in other respects be constructed similarly to the "other wheels as previously indicated and may likewise be retained by cotter pin means as I23.

It-will be apparent that the invention is sub- J'ect-to variation and modification without de- "parting from the scope intended to be covered 'by-andfairly ascribable to the subjoined claims.

'-I claim:

1." In a vehicle of the character described including body means adapted to carry a load and front and rear wheels supported by and adapted to carry thebody means, steerable front wheel supporting means, and means for imparting a "drivetoa front wheel to propel the vehicle, comprising an axle supporting structure, pivotal connecting means attaching said structure to'said body means for swiveling movement about a substantially vertical axis'for steering, an axle carried by said structure, a handle supporting portion also carried by said structure, a handle pivotally connected to said handle supportingportion for swinging movement about a substantially horizontal axis, said handle being held-against swinging movement with respect to said extension about an axis parallel to the steering axis, Whereby the handle may be moved laterally to swing said structure about said steering axis, and driving means for turning said front wheel to propel the vehicle in response to swinging movement of said handle aboutsaid horizontal axis, said driv- "ingmeans including a crank, a driving arm for -'said crank, and a clutch for selectively connecting said handle to and disconnecting it from said driving arm.

2. Means as set forth in claim 1 in which said clutch includes a member movable toand from engagement with said arm, and clutch operating means extending upwardly along the handle and:

'manipulatable from a position remote from said substantially horizontal axis.

3. Means as set forth in claim 1 in which said structure comprises a yoke assembly of generally inverted U form, said driving means including 1J8 driving and driven members carried by said yoke assembly and connected to said drivable front wheel, said handle and arm also being carried by said yoke assembly.

4. In a vehicle of the character described having a body and front and rear wheels, a structure for steerably supporting the front wheels and for propelling the vehicle comprising an axle support having steering bearing portion adapted to be pivotally secured to the body for swinging movement about a steering axis, laterally spaced side portions rigidly secured to and projecting downwardly from said steering bearing portion, a live axle journaled in said side portions and adapted to carry the wheels for bodily swinging movement with said support during steering movement, a handle connecting portion carried by said support and rigidly secured thereto for movement as a unit therewith, substantially horizontal pivot means carried by said handle connecting portion, a handle carried by and swingable about said pivot means, and means for rotating said axle in response to swinging movement of the axle about said pivot means, including a crank, an actuating member rockable about said pivot means for turning the crank and the axle, and means including a clutch for selectively connecting and disconnecting the handle with respect to said actuating member.

5. In combination with means as set forth in claim 4, actuating means for said clutch extending longitudinally of the handle and-adapted to be operated from a point remote from' the pivot means.

6. In combination with means as set forth in claim 1, a rotatable driven element fast with respect to said drivable front wheel, and a driving element coupled to the driven element and rotatably carried by said supporting structure, said crank means being connected to said'driving element.

7. Means as setforth in claim 1 including a driven pulley fast with respect to said drivable front wheel, a driving pulley rotatably supported by and bodily swingable with said supporting structure and lying in a plane substantially parallel to the driven pulley, belt means joining said pulleys, said crank being connected to saiddriving pulley, said actuating member comprising an arm swingable about said pivot means, and a pitman joining said arm and said crank, said clutch comprising a member adapted to selectively couple or uncouple said arm and handle.

8. A vehicle construction of the character described including a body and front and rear wheels, and combined front wheel-suspending and vehicle-propelling means including an axle supporting structure, steering pivot means connecting said structure to the body for pivotal movement about a substantially vertical steering axis, wheel-supporting side portions extending downwardly from said steering pivot means, a wheelsupporting live axle journaled in said side portions, and combined steering and propelling means for turning said structure about said steering axis and for rotating the axle to turn a wheel keyed thereto, including a crank for rotating said axle, a handle pivoted to said structure for swinging movement about a substantially horizontal axis but held against unwanted turning With respect to the steering axis, and means connecting said handle to saidcrank including a rod member for imparting rotary movement to said crank in re-- sponse to swinging movement of the handle about said horizontal axis, whereby the vehicle maybe propelled, the vehicle being steerable by swing- REFERENCES CITED ing movement of the handle about said first-mentioned steering axis to impart corresponding steering movement to said structure and to the wheels The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

carried by said axle. 5, UNITED STATES PATENTS 9. A vehicle construction as set forth in claim Number Name Date 8 including an arm swingable about said same 875,477 Weber 31 1907 horizontal axis and means movable to and from 1,362,825 Skomik 21, 1920 interengaged relation with respect to said arm 1,932,289 Jarvis et aL Oct 24 1933 to selectively couple the handle to the arm. 10 1973347 Bukolt Sept 1934 JOSEPH J. PANIK. 

